Dungy became the first black coach to win an NFL title Sunday when his Indianapolis Colts beat Smith's Chicago Bears, 29-17.

"It means probably more to him than it does to any of us," Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney said. "He has waited a long time."

The weather was the worst in Super Bowl history, with steady rain from start to finish, and it suited Dungy and his Colts just fine. When the slick ball forced them to rein in their potent passing game, their defense and running game assumed a championship-caliber share of the load.

"We showed we could win many ways," Dungy said.

He and Manning also showed they could win the big game, shaking labels they've been saddled with for years. Dungy made the breakthrough in his 11th year as a head coach and his fifth with the Colts, until now perennial title contenders and late-season disappointments.

"He has had a lot of good speeches after some of those playoff losses, when most guys can hardly say anything and it's hard to hold your head up," Manning said. "He stayed positive and he kept believing. It's just great to have him as our leader."

Manning, meanwhile, strengthened his standing among the game's great quarterbacks by winning his first Super Bowl title.

"It has been hard to watch these other teams hoist that trophy," said Manning, who threw for 247 yards and a touchdown. "That's a hard pill to swallow. You have to learn from it and realize how badly you want to be up there."

Manning's younger brother Eli has yet to come close to a title in three seasons with the New York Giants. Their father, Archie, was a star NFL quarterback for 14 years who never reached the playoffs.

Now the family has a ring, thanks to Peyton.

"If people think he needed to win a Super Bowl, that is just wrong," Dungy said. "This guy is a Hall of Fame player and one of the greatest ever."

Manning had plenty of help as the Colts (16-4) earned their first title since the 1970 season, when they played in Baltimore.

Dominic Rhodes ran for 113 yards and Joseph Addai added 77 to help Indianapolis control the ball for 38 minutes.

The defense, often the culprit when past title bids came up short, recovered two fumbles and intercepted Rex Grossman twice in the fourth quarter, with Kelvin Hayden's 56-yard interception return sealing the win.

It was the kind of performance needed to win the first rainy Super Bowl. Gusty wind made the conditions even more challenging, and the halftime show had a finale all too fitting - Prince's "Purple Rain."

"We knew it would be a nasty game," Colts linebacker Gary Brackett said. "As a defensive player, you love it. That's the way we played."

Manning threw an early interception but otherwise handled the ball flawlessly. Twice he slipped on the slick grass as he threw and fell but still managed to complete the pass.

Grossman, by contrast, fumbled two snaps and forced throws trying to rally his team. He can look forward to an offseason of debate in Chicago as to whether he's the Bears' quarterback of the future.

"My confidence never wavered," he said. "We missed some crucial plays, and that's the difference in the Super Bowl."

The Bears started fast when speedy rookie Devin Hester became the first player to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Burned by the 92-yard score, Dungy ordered squibbed kickoffs the rest of the game.

The Colts, who overcame an 18-point deficit against New England to win the AFC championship game, found themselves in another hole when a touchdown pass by Grossman put the Bears up 14-6.

"Kind of like we've done all playoffs - no panic whatsoever," Manning said.

Manning put Indianapolis on the board with a 53-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne. Rhodes' 1-yard touchdown run put the Colts ahead to stay at 16-14.

The game could have been more lopsided. Four Colts drives stalled inside the 30. They committed three turnovers, and three times their scoring threats ended without a point. Adam Vinatieri kicked three field goals but also missed one, and Indy also botched an extra point.

The Bears (15-4) managed only 11 first downs, committed five turnovers and came up short playing in their first Super Bowl since Walter Payton led them to the title 21 years ago. But Smith achieved a cultural milestone when he and his former mentor, Dungy, became the first black head coaches to reach the Super Bowl.

Shortly after the game, Smith spoke of returning in 2008.

"We took a big step this year," he said. "Hopefully next season we can take one more step and finish the job."

His relationship with Dungy dates to 1996, when Smith became an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They were a page-one story throughout last week, discussing daily the laid-back personalities and Christian faith they share, as well as their groundbreaking success.

"I'm proud to be the first African-American coach to win this," Dungy said during the trophy ceremony. "But again, more than anything, Lovie Smith and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that."